5:08am

[Olivia1987]

It’s crazy how far a baby can push you. Even though I feel like he’s taken every once of energy, patience and mental stability I’ve got left, I can’t just stop, say that’s enough and walk away. I got annoyed at him tonight 😓 ( I hate myself for it) because he just wouldn’t lie down and the endless crying because he’s tired. Bringing him into bed with me made no difference whatsoever. The screaming and crying. The kicking and protesting feels like it lasts forever.

All of this and on very little sleep in the first place. I’ve spent so much time and money trying to help him sleep better. “Professionals” seem to have given up on us. Blaming me for his inability to sleep for longer than 2 hours at a time (that’s an incredibly good night if he manages that) The sleep programs only work for a while. They don’t take into account teething, illness and separation anxiety, all of which Rory suffers from 10 times worse then other babies (at least that’s what it feels like)

I’m lay here as quietly as I can be, head pounding, eyes stinging, body so exhausted I can’t even be bothered to get up and go for a wee.

But he’s asleep. I don’t know how long for and all I want to do is sleep but my mind is restless worrying about what happens when he wakes again, thinking about how long I’ve slept already tonight, how I’ve been told so many times “it gets better” and it’s not, IT’S JUST NOT! Thinking how am I going to cope for however long these awful, long, lonely, stressful, tiring nights are going to last.

It seems like I’m the only one who has had to deal with this and I know I’m not but in the dark of the night when everyone else is asleep and quiet I’m here awake trying to calm a baby who hates being calm.

I love him so much I can’t put it into words but my goodness a baby can push you. 😢

God, I remember thise nights!
I hear you. It’s torture.
Not helping you now, but it does get better. Or we become more resilient, I can’t remember. Took years out of my life.
Close your eyes for a bit.

Yup turn phone off and rest.

I've been there. Still am some nights and it's torture! How old is he??

Oh bless you. I don’t really have advice but I didn’t want to leave it without posting. I take it you don’t have anyone available to help you so you can get some sleep? Even if it’s daytime sleep? And I imagine you’ve already eliminated physical issues that might be upsetting him. How old is your baby.

I’m up worrying about my just turned 15 year old who seems intent on getting herself pregnant. (She hasn’t yet)

Actually yes. Just close your eyes and rest now, even if it’s not sleep.

Again, no help, but it does get better.

My DS was like this. He was a nightmare sleeper and we tried everything but it had no impact. He only every slept for 90 minutes at a time, would be awake for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night and was always irritable as he was so tired.

It did get better eventually. We coslept and then at around 20 months he started sleeping better. No real reason why, he just started doing it. He is almost 3 now and although an early riser he generally sleeps 9pm-5am which is much better.

I’ve also got a 6 month old DD who has slept through the night from 8 weeks despite me treating them both the same!

Thanks for the replies. No one has any solutions I just felt like I needed to say how I felt. I did go to sleep for all of an hour and 50 minutes. I thought my little one would sleep a bit longer this morning but bang on 7am he’s up. Haha.

My boyfriend has work 7:35am-10:05pm plus he’s unwell at the moment so it’s just me at night. I also work and I’m so grateful I don’t have work today. I’m also grateful I work in a coffee shop. Haha.

Everything always seems worse at night sorry for my ramblings. Last night was a particularly bad night and I don’t know why. He’s a happy baby in the day.

I never look at the time through the night. I found when I actually looked at how many times he was waking, how long for, how much sleep I'd had etc. It just made me feel way worse.

I don't look at my phone or anything either as that wakes me up more.

He's 1 now and it always amazes dh how quickly I can get back to sleep when he wakes us because I'm so used to it now.

My other 3 were brilliant sleepers so it was a bit of a shock to the system.

Hope things improve for you soon.

It will eventually get better but sometimes not for a really long time so I found it's not worth thinking about until it's happening.

My daughter barely slept for about a year (4-16 months). I was also glad to have a relatively easy job that could be done to an acceptable standard following very little sleep!

Remember the little things make a big difference:

Have a shower, by yourself
Get your hair done
Go swimming

Any little refreshing breaks help us to be better parents, whatever our little bundles have in store!

My son never slept as a baby and being a working mum i survived on little sleep for years and doing 10 hour shifts. Unfortunately you have to remember it's a baby and they not born with a routine. 😔Routine is key and very important and try to get out and do something like swimming/walk/coffee reduce naps during the day and if baby does nap reduce the times so no more then a hour each time and no more then two in the day and no napping after 4pm. My son is 5 now and he's a amazing sleeper now so remember its only a phase and it will get better.

My ds was just like this. He's 7 now and only wakes when he needs the bathroom. The waking every 2 hours seems like a lifetime ago. He never napped for more than 45 minutes during the day to! As you have stated, we also tried every trick in the book. I found that during the day if I was feeling exhausted/overwhelmed I would go up to bed and take him with me. Eventually he would nod off and sleep around and hour or so. Afterwards I always felt much better. I remember going to bed as early as 7pm some nights. Right after I'd out him to bed to make sure I got some sleep before he would wake up again. I hope you're feeling better this morning. Tiredness can be horrid. Your little one will improve with time.

I have a nearly 18 month old that was exactly the same. Sleeping for short periods then would be up for 2-3 hours in the night then me having to go to work like a zombie the next day. All of a sudden a few weeks ago we started getting nights where he slept through and now is maybe up just 1 or 2 nights. Like yourself we had tried everything previous to this so I don't have any advise to offer but just wanted to say that I feel your pain with you! It doesn't feel like it I know but it isn't forever, be strong and keep going, there is nobody more resilient than a mum x

My son was like this op it's so so grim. It honestly does get better eventually..he's 3 now and sleeps so well. The long lonely nights are a distant memory. One day it will be the same for you x

I remember this. Getting angry when dd was just messing about and wouldn't sleep then one day it just clicked and now she sleeps through (waiting for the next thing to disrupt the routine!)

I just reminded myself that in the sas they use lack of sleep as a form of torture but one day they will sleep and it will be ok.

Try leaving your phone downstairs as I found when I was woken up looking at my phone made me more restless

My son was exactly the same, don't feel bad for loosing your patience, your probably exhausted physically and mentally. Eventually I convinced my sons doctor to try him on melatonin. I'll never forget the first time he had it and slept for a full night I still stayed awake terrified he would wake up at any moment lol maybe its something you could try, I hope everything works out for you and best of luck 🤞 😊